Spanx Clothing Review: Stretch Twill, EasyBreezy, & What’s Worth Buying
TL;DR
The Quick Version
Sharing honest thoughts and photos of trying out the latest season of Spanx clothing, including the EasyBreezy cotton linen collection and Supersmooth Stretch Twill shorts and pants. Both hold up to the hype: real pockets, opaque white fabric, and sizing that runs true with petite options.
Spanx is a brand known to many of us for offering compression wear and high quality tights and hosiery. But in recent years, Spanx has been increasing its apparel line and IMO, it's seriously worth checking out. The full line is available in sizes XS-3X, and most pants and some other pieces are available in regular, petite, and tall options.
Spanx Clothing Review: Cotton/Linen Blend and Stretch Twill
This season, Spanx sent me some of its latest apparel offerings for me to try. I shared on Instagram Stories and made a highlight on my profile, but folks found it so helpful, I decided to make a dedicated blog post offering my Spanx clothing review. But because of this, the photos aren't that polished. But I think this shows the true fit and quality without the fancy styling and posing.
While I was gifted this clothing, I was under no obligation to share it. I chose the pieces from an offered lookbook. I chose what I felt I'd wear on the regular but also what I thought you, the Wardrobe Oxygen community, would want to know more about. For this season, I did a mix of the SPANX® EasyBreezy collection and SPANXsupersmooth® Stretch Twill pieces. For reference, I am over 50, 5'3″ tall and wear a size 14, sometimes 16 depending on the brand.
SPANX® EasyBreezy Cotton Linen Blend Review
SPANX® EasyBreezy is a collection of pieces made from 43% Cotton, 38% Rayon, 17% Linen, and 2% Elastane. A loose weave that looks like a heavyweight linen, the fabric has great drape, machine washable, and is truly easy and breezy in the summer heat. The EasyBreezy collection is tailored but not tight pieces that can go from work to weekend with ease.
From the collection, I received the Cotton Linen Short, 5″ in Ivory size Large, the Cotton Linen Super Wide Leg Pant in both Ivory and Navy, size Large Petite, and the Cotton Linen Button-Down Vest in Ivory size Large and Navy size XL.
I was surprised by how well the vest fit, especially considering I am both petite and large busted. The large fit but was too snug at the bust and had to be safety pinned between the buttons to have it lie flat. The XL was a perfect fit, yet didn't gape at the under arms or lower back.
Both the shorts and the pants were a very comfortable and slightly generous fit. The petite length of the pants was perfect for my 5'3″ self; I could even wear them with Birkenstock sandals and other flat shoes no problem.
I am pleased that these pieces all have working pockets. Spanx has been known to have fake pockets to reduce bulk, but it also reduces functionality. Even the vest has working pockets.
This fabric can dress up and down with ease. The set could be worn to the office with suede loafers, to a wedding with a clutch and metallic sandals, and for the weekend with canvas sneakers.
I wore the shorts with a cotton sweater tee and Birks one day running errands, the vest and pants for a Date Night dinner with my husband, and the pants with a Breton striped shirt and leather sneakers for a day working as an election judge for early voting in my state. The pieces held their shape, didn't stretch out, and remained comfortable.
SPANXsupersmooth® Stretch Twill Review
I already had Spanx chino/twill shorts from a previous year that I really loved. I realized with this order that the SPANXsupersmooth® Stretch Twill is not the same as the past chino shorts… and that's a good thing. Made from 52% Cotton, 31% Lenzing™ Ecovero™ Viscose, 13% Polyester, and 4% Lycra® Elastane, this fabric has great stretch, but is firmer than past SPANX shorts, and has a tighter weave that looks more elevated. This fabric can easily go to the office or be glammed up with a going out top or silky blouse.
From the collection, I received the SPANXsupersmooth® Stretch Twill Short in 7″ in size XL, and the 5″ version in both L and XL. I also received the SPANXsupersmooth® Stretch Twill Wide Leg Pant in L Petite. For all of these pieces, I got them in the color White. White is a hard color to shop for: it's sometimes transparent, it sometimes runs thicker or thinner than other colors in the same style, and it's a color that can elevate summer tops.
SPANXsupersmooth® Stretch Twill Short
After writing my guide to the best shorts for women in midlife, I wanted to get the SPANX shorts in multiple sizes and lengths to show the subtle differences and how a new-to-you inseam or sizing up or down can make you a shorts convert.
As someone who is petite but curvy with a belly and a bum, not large hips, but strong thighs, I struggle to know what size shorts to wear. In general, I find going up a size from what is worn in jeans usually is a good guide for shopping for shorts. This is why I ordered these shorts in both XL and L.
I found the 5″ length in Large to be the fit and look that appealed to me best, but showing all three I hope helps if you're trying to figure out the best choice for your height and shape… and to show there isn't a huge difference in inseam length. I wish I got the 7″ in Large so I could show that as well; I think I would have also liked it even being 5'3″ tall.
| Length | Size | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 7″ | XL | Taller frames or anyone who wants more thigh coverage |
| 5″ | XL | More room through the hip and thigh, still a shorter length |
| 5″ | L | Petite frames who want a closer fit through the leg |
SPANXsupersmooth® Stretch Twill Wide Leg Pant
The SPANXsupersmooth® Stretch Twill Wide Leg Pant in Large Petite was perfect. SPANX petite isn't just shorter in length, but shorter in rise. I could tell the difference in the fit from the shorts, which only come in inseam changes, not petite or tall options.
| Length | Inseam | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Petite | 29″ | 5'4″ and under |
| Regular | 31″ | Average height |
| Tall | 34″ | 5'11” and above |
Because of this, one who wears petite may wish to size up in the stretch twill pants if they are between sizes. I think the XL Petite would have also fit, just been a more casual effect. The length was great; worked with Birkenstock sandals but could also do a low heel or wedge.
What Makes SPANX Apparel Stand Out
As mentioned, this isn't my first time trying SPANX apparel. I own pieces of the AirEssentials knit collection, stretch twill chino shorts from previous years, a pair of no-longer-offered black ponte shorts I adore, great SPANX trouser jeans, and have tried SPANX dresses and tops. One thing I am noticing is each season, SPANX seems to increase its attention to detail and quality.
Functional Pockets
Unlike my black ponte shorts from a few years ago, every single pair of shorts and pants, and even the vests from the summer SPANX apparel collection had working pockets. In the past, SPANX eschewed pockets for a streamlined “slimming” effect, but they've realized a modern woman cares more about pockets than looking a centimeter smaller. With zip-close pockets on the twill shorts, these look polished but are functional enough for a morning hike or sightseeing in a pickpocket-prone city.
Opacity with Fabric and Unique Details
White and ivory pants and shorts can be sheer. Both the SPANX® EasyBreezy cotton/linen blend and the SPANXsupersmooth® Stretch Twill fabrics are opaque, even when backlit. But not only that, pockets are made from a taupe fabric that disappears under the clothing, and there is a panel of thin taupe fabric at the back of the waistband that will hide the hem of a tucked-in top.
I have never before seen such a panel in white pants or shorts and found it utterly genius. You can see in the photos above that I tucked in my brightly-printed top into the white pants and shorts and you can't see it at all due to this opacity panel.
Size Inclusivity
While the average woman in the United States is petite and in extended or plus sizes, the average clothing retailer doesn't offer such sizes for them. It's a big reason why I write at Wardrobe Oxygen: to make shopping for the average American woman easier. And SPANX is a clothing retailer that not only offers sizes XS-3X but when the style permits, every single one of those sizes is available in petite and tall/long as well as average.
For example with the SPANXsupersmooth® Stretch Twill Wide Leg Pant, the insems are: Petite 29″ (recommended for 5'4″ and under), Regular 31″, and Tall 34″ (recommended for 5'11” and above) whether you're most comfortable in a size S or a size 2X and the rise is adjusted for your height, too.
Easy Care Laundry Instructions
With brands cutting corners to keep apparel prices low, fabric blends and lower-quality textiles are requesting more complicated laundry instructions. Gentle wash in a lingerie bag, hand wash, lie flat, dry clean only… but SPANX has the quality that can handle the machine.
- SPANXsupersmooth® Stretch Twill: Machine Wash Cold, Gentle Cycle. Wash Before Wearing. With Like Colors. With Mild Detergent. Inside Out. Do Not Bleach. Tumble Dry Low. Low Iron If Needed. Or Dry Clean.
- SPANX® EasyBreezy: Machine Wash Cold, Gentle Cycle. Do Not Use Fabric Softener. Only Non-Chlorine Bleach When Needed. Line Dry. Low Iron If Needed. Or Dry Clean.
- SPANX AirEssentials®: Machine Wash Cold, Gentle Cycle. Do Not Use Fabric Softener. Only Non-Chlorine Bleach When Needed. Tumble Dry Low. Low Iron If Needed. Or Dry Clean.
- SPANXsupersmooth® PerfectFit Ponte: Machine Wash Cold, Gentle Cycle. With Like Colors. Only Non-Chlorine Bleach When Needed. Line Dry. Low Iron If Needed. Or Dry Clean.
I have laundered all the above mentioned SPANX fabrics in my machine with cold water, and on the gentle cycle. I have put the stretch twill in the dryer, the rest I have thrown over a curtain rod or clipped to a hanger and line dried in my bathroom. They have all come out great. I have even thrown AirEssentials and ponte into the dryer once or twice and it has survived (though I am not recommending you do the same).
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Frequently Asked Questions About SPANX Apparel
Does Spanx clothing run true to size?
Yes, for the most part. Both the EasyBreezy and Stretch Twill collections fit true to size, though shorts run slightly different from the pants since they only come in standard inseams, not petite or tall. If you're between sizes, going up a size from your jeans size is a solid guide for Spanx shorts specifically.
Is Spanx white clothing see-through?
No. Both the EasyBreezy cotton linen blend and the Supersmooth Stretch Twill are opaque in white, even backlit. Spanx also lines the pockets in taupe fabric and adds a hidden taupe panel at the back waistband so a tucked-in top or your underwear waistband won't show through.
Does Spanx offer petite and tall sizing?
Yes, and it's genuinely size-inclusive: petite and tall options are available across sizes XS through 3X on the styles that offer them, with the rise adjusted for height, not just the length. The Stretch Twill Wide Leg Pant, for example, comes in Petite (29″ inseam), Regular (31″), and Tall (34″).
Do Spanx pants and shorts have real pockets?
Yes. Every piece in both collections, including the vest, has working pockets. Spanx used to skip functional pockets to keep a streamlined look, but that's changed, and the pockets are zip-close on the twill shorts, so they hold up for travel or errands.
Can you machine wash Spanx stretch twill and EasyBreezy pieces?
Yes. Machine wash cold on gentle cycle for both. Stretch Twill can go in the dryer on low. EasyBreezy does better line dried, though it can survive an occasional dryer cycle in a pinch.
What size should I order in Spanx shorts?
Sizing up from your usual jeans size is a good starting point, especially if you carry weight in your belly or bum rather than your hips. Testing the 5″ length in both a Large and XL showed the differences are subtle, so when in doubt, size down for a more fitted look or up for more ease through the thigh.
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